Interests:filming/editing/exotic travel. l write reviews of editing software, books, tutorials and Mac based NLE related products for the www.kenstone.net and www.lafcpug.org sites as well as articles for Asian Diver Magazine and wetpixel. I am one of the founding members of the San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

Posted 11 May 2009 - 03:34 PM

Hey Mark,
Very thorough reviews of all 3 housings and was glad to see both writers personalize their perspectives of each. I certainly agree that, especially in today's economy, some of the costs border on outrageous. You did have some excellent suggestions regarding trading in policies with new models hitting the market like tsunami's.
Do you have an explanation for the pixillation of the Gates monitor? Unless there was a bad cable, that should not have occurred.
Congrats and well done, mate
Steve

www.kenstone.net
www.lafcpug.org

Steve Douglas
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net

I have worked as an unpaid reviewer for the editing websites since 2002. Most all hardware and software is sent to me free of charge, however, in no way am I obligated to provide either positive or negative evaluations. Any suggestions I make regarding products are a result of my own, completely, personal opinions and experiences with said products.

Interests:Filming and documentary production. Beach and surf photography. Family time, isolated beaches and walking the dog.

Posted 11 May 2009 - 04:43 PM

Hey Mark, Very thorough reviews of all 3 housings and was glad to see both writers personalize their perspectives of each. I certainly agree that, especially in today's economy, some of the costs border on outrageous. You did have some excellent suggestions regarding trading in policies with new models hitting the market like tsunami's. Do you have an explanation for the pixillation of the Gates monitor? Unless there was a bad cable, that should not have occurred. Congrats and well done, mateSteve

Hey Steve,Long time buddy. Been busy but hope as always that you are well. The issue of pixelation was seen on a few times. This led us to believe that this may have been for any number of reasons, bad connection, dust in one of the pins etc etc.

In defense of the costs, I know they seem steep, but one should also look at what you are getting. I am not blowing anyone's trumpet here, and nor have I been requested to. Look at all of the stories which abound in these forums regarding customer care, "Oh these guys suck 'coz they are never there when I call, don't reply to my mails, calls"etc. For the cost of the housing I think you are discussing one gets a lot of the additional extras you would normally have to pay for, adjustable handles, seal check equipment etc. Then put a client care package on top of that which is second to none and you have a sound investment. I had an external monitor problem with a Z1U housing from that manufacturer when I was in Palau and they called me on a Monday morning, internationally, on my cell....never heard of any other company with kinda attention to their clients. Yes the housings can be expensive but IF I were to be looking at that kind of investment I would also realize that this is system is not built for a camera that will want to be replaced by the owner in a year, two years, tops. Its all relative.

Hey how are things going anyway? Hope Bets is feeling better. How's the Harley? Loved cruising on that when I was there.

Many thanks to Mark and Johnny for this review, and particular gratitude from Gates for a proper field shakedown of DEEP RED. They highlighted important issues to address prior to deployment.

Which, incidentally, have indeed been addressed. All the items noted in the report are behind us for production housings. Details are available if so requested.

One note about the 'pixelation'. This is actually noise, introduced by trying to pass those pesky high speed digital signals across bulkhead connectors. After several tries with different manufacturers, we simply could not get rid of the noise. So we have developed a solution that is unique to Gates: a 'pass through' cable that is *uninterrupted* from LEMO to LEMO, yet remains detachable.

Interests:filming/editing/exotic travel. l write reviews of editing software, books, tutorials and Mac based NLE related products for the www.kenstone.net and www.lafcpug.org sites as well as articles for Asian Diver Magazine and wetpixel. I am one of the founding members of the San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

Posted 12 May 2009 - 02:10 PM

John,
To simplify things for my understanding, is this like the difference in impedance between different gauges of audio wire? 16 or 18 gauge is rather thin and for hi end theater systems, a much higher gauge allows cleaner sound. Is it the same for the cable from a hi speed digital signals needing simply a more efficient cable to allow the transfer of data?
Steve

www.kenstone.net
www.lafcpug.org

Steve Douglas
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net

I have worked as an unpaid reviewer for the editing websites since 2002. Most all hardware and software is sent to me free of charge, however, in no way am I obligated to provide either positive or negative evaluations. Any suggestions I make regarding products are a result of my own, completely, personal opinions and experiences with said products.

Here is the PDF that Mark has put together, as a mod I have a larger attachment allowance!

There are also some short clips of the beasts in action (the cameras, not the cameramen) here.

Alex

Thanks Alex for allowing the hosting of the pdf file on WP, and for posting the link to my website, where the videoclips of the RED Shootout are available for download ( http://www.oceanwonders.org/RED_Palau )

If hosting of that pdf paper ever becomes a problem in the future, I'll be happy to host that file on my site, on the same page where the videoclips reside.

It's not the cable per se, it's rather the lack thereof as it passes over the bulkhead connector. A higher grade cable would not help as it would still need to transmit through the unshielded connector.

Great report Mark and really interesting. It will good to see whether Deep Red can be modified for EPIC when it comes out that will make the price tag a lot easier to justify.
Do you have any screen grabs from the shoot to compare the optics of each of the housings? That could be a serious deal breaker.

Interests:Filming and documentary production. Beach and surf photography. Family time, isolated beaches and walking the dog.

Posted 13 May 2009 - 11:42 PM

I'm afraid not Johnny. Client keeps all footage, no exceptions. I will not be upgrading to Epic, the whole yearly turn around with cameras and accessories at this end of the line is just way too much to tolerate. Why, when I can get sensor services and upgrades? Form factor stays the same. When will anyone be broadcasting in 4K? Not in my lifetime or for the foreseeable future.

Interests:filming/editing/exotic travel. l write reviews of editing software, books, tutorials and Mac based NLE related products for the www.kenstone.net and www.lafcpug.org sites as well as articles for Asian Diver Magazine and wetpixel. I am one of the founding members of the San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

Posted 14 May 2009 - 11:33 AM

Yeah Mark, but what are you going to do when Red comes out with the new Holographic cams and everyone has a Star Trek holographic theater room. Bet you'll upgrade then.;-)
I agree with you, it used to be a cam stayed king of the hill for a few years and now its as bad as computers, they drop to the bottom of the line's barrel very quick making it financially impossible to keep up.
Steve

www.kenstone.net
www.lafcpug.org

Steve Douglas
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net

I have worked as an unpaid reviewer for the editing websites since 2002. Most all hardware and software is sent to me free of charge, however, in no way am I obligated to provide either positive or negative evaluations. Any suggestions I make regarding products are a result of my own, completely, personal opinions and experiences with said products.

Very nice review Mark. Our Red should be coming in next week, so the plan is to be in the water over Memorial weekend with it shooting!!! Hope to get out this time (last 3 local trips canceled due to weather) and have some good stuff to show at the Long Beach show!!